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Zambian e-commerce startup Bosso raises $400k in pre-seed funding

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Zambian e-commerce construction startup, Bosso, has announced raising $400,000 in pre-seed round of funding to further develop its platform and add new features.

Bosso, a cutting-edge e-commerce construction platform aimed at delivering solutions for the African construction and building sector founded in 2022 by Chisepo Chirwa, Mukopaje Singogo, Ibn Kafwanka and Salwa Shamapande, is Zambia’s largest online construction material marketplace for hardware stores and contractors.

According to Chirwa who is the firm’s CEO, the platform benefits the Zambian construction sector by “making quality and affordable building materials available to everyone, everywhere.”

“What initially began as an online marketplace that streamlined the sourcing of building materials for hardware stores, has evolved into a holistic B2B and B2C solution to address the 60 million housing deficit across Africa,” Chirwa said in an interview on Friday.

He stated that the startup has so far onboarded over 1,000 hardware stores in Zambia, served over 200 homebuilders with source materials, and delivered construction materials to four out of 10 Zambian provinces.

“The $400,000 pre-seed round was raised from Leonard by Vinci, Launch Africa Ventures, Renew Capital, Change-Com, and various angel investors, and will be used to expand operations in its home market, and build new products,” he said.

“The remainder of this year and 2025 will see Bosso transfer the two years of data they have acquired to their AI technology in order to drastically decrease the inefficiencies across the sector.

“We will be launching a new platform that adds on essential services on top of the materials we already offer. Services such as land conveyance, financing, “save now pay later”, and access to construction companies.”

Chirwa opined that Bosso was on a mission to source materials for over 5,000 homes in 2025, and would open its seed round in August.

“The housing crisis is real, and Africa needs a Bosso tackling this issue because everyone deserves decent and affordable housing.

“We want to bring our mission to the entire continent, starting with Southern Africa, as well launch a new AI building materials assistant to accelerate our solution.”

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Nigeria’s digital security startup Prembly announces merger with Kenya’s Peleza

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Nigeria’s digital security startup, Prembly Group, has announced a strategic merger with Kenya’s security firm, Peleza, with the aim of creating a combined entity and a robust data infrastructure and compliance solutions company that will serve emerging markets in Africa.

While Prembly which was founded in 2021 has quickly become a key player in the digital security and infrastructure space, serving enterprises and global companies, Peleza is one of East Africa’s most prominent background checks and KYB companies, and the merger will help the firms expand into emerging markets and position the continent as the next hub for growth.

Lanre Ogungbe, founder and CEO of Prembly, who made the announcement in a statement, said Peleza has developed AI-powered solutions that offer KYC, KYB, and background checks “Solutions for Instant” and seamless Identity verification, background checks, and business onboarding to the entire client lifecycle and user-based management.

Ogungbe added that the merger of the two companies will make the new combined entity the “most robust data infrastructure and compliance solutions company serving emerging markets.”

“The merger with Peleza deepens our industry knowledge and elevates our strengths and technologies, empowering us to exceed our clients’ expectations worldwide,” Ogungbe said.

“Operating under a unified brand as Prembly Group, this strategic alliance will leverage synergies to enhance service delivery across multiple sectors, including finance, telecommunications, e-commerce, and more.

“Customers can expect enhanced capabilities in identity verification, background checks, risk management, and regulatory compliance solutions tailored to meet businesses’ evolving needs,” he stated.

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Chinese electric car manufacturers NETA Auto launches first African flagship showroom in Kenya

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Chinese electric car manufacturers, NETA Auto, a brand of Hozon Auto, has opened its first African flagship store in Kenya, making it NETA Auto’s first store in Africa.

The opening of the flagship store also marks a new phase of EVs to entering the African right-hand drive (RHD) market.

A statement by the firm notes that the reason for NETA Auto choosing Kenya as its entry point to Africa is based on in-depth analysis of its market potential and strategic vision of global strategies.

“Kenya not only serves as a gateway to Southern, Central, and Eastern Africa but is also a key node in the Belt and Road Initiative,” the statement said.

“By leveraging Kenya’s strategic location, NETA Auto aims to deepen economic and trade ties with African countries, and finally completes the transformation of ‘The Chinese NETA’ into ‘The World NETA’.”

NETA Auto’s star model, NETA V, has already debuted in Kenya, and models such as NETA AYA and NETA X will follow in the future.

“In the next two years, NETA Auto plans to enter 20 countries, open 100 stores and achieve an annual sales volume over 20000 units within three years in Africa,” the company said.

“By establishing a high-quality service network and providing consumers excellent after-sales services, NETA Auto aims to become the leader of the new energy car manufacturers in the region.

“Driven by its globalization strategy, NETA Auto adheres to an overseas strategy of ‘Deep rooting in ASEAN, standing out in South America, and developing in the Middle East and Africa’.”

The Chinese auto giant had also established three major Intelligent eco-factories in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, with outstanding export performance.

“With the technical support of the Hozi, Shanhai and Yunhe platforms, NETA Auto continues to set new standards in the EV industry.

“The application of these cutting-edge technologies not only enhances the product’s intelligence, offering consumers a more comfortable driving experience but also adds momentum to NETA Auto in the African market.

“With the gradual implementation of the Africa strategy, NETA Auto is embarking on a new journey with its outstanding products, innovative strategies, and globalization insight.”

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